Today's Paper

DMK may seek Jayalalithaa's disqualification: Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi indicated that his party might approach the Election Commission (EC) seeking disqualification of AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa as MLA because she did not disclose all her assets at the time of filing nomination for the Assembly polls.

When presspersons asked him if the DMK would approach the EC seeking her disqualification for not disclosing her assets, Mr.Karunanidhi said: "Only now you have made a suggestion through this question. We will consider [it]."

Asked what action the Government would take on the Kodanadu estates issue, Mr. Karunanidhi said that only a few newspapers carried the news on the contravening of rules and regulations at the estate.

The Kodanadu area had a hilly terrain. Even to build a house in the terrain, special permission had to be obtained.

What had been constructed in the estate was not a house, but a palace, he said, exhibiting photographs of the construction.

Mr. Karunanidhi said that the total extent of the property was 43,585 sq.ft and the built-up area 38,000 sq.ft. No permission was sought to build any structure on that property.

Officials were prevented from making enquiries about the ownership of the property. He added that former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had stated that the building did not belong to her, that she had gone there for staying and this was being blown out of proportion. "Even today I have released details of their connection with the property," he said. If one looked at the investment there, on capital account, Ms. Jayalalithaa's friend N. Sasikala had put in Rs.1.8 crore on April 1, 2005, he said. This was also her final investment in the property as on March 31, 2006.

Likewise, on April 1, 2005, Ms. Jayalalithaa's initial investment was Rs.1.8 crore. As on March 31, 2006, her final investment was Rs.1.8 crore. "I have released this with supporting documents," he said. "Today I received information from a prominent journalist I am not sure how much of this is true that this wealth has not been declared by Ms.Jayalalithaa ahead of filing nomination for the 2006 Assembly polls. If this is true if this is established Ms. Jayalalithaa can neither contest elections in future and her victory now will also become null and void," Mr.Karunanidhi said.

Rumour of raid

Asked what action would be taken against the illegal structure, he said action would be taken as per law. "But in between you people [the press] have been spreading a rumour that a raid was on [at Ms.Jayalalithaa's residence]. This is false," he said.